PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has said that provincial government is considering to run a train on built operate and transfer (BOT) model in Peshawar to ease traffic congestion in the city.

He said that the train project, on BOT model, was being discussed with a private company.

He said development of provincial capital was one of the top priorities of the government.

He added that result-oriented steps would be taken for the development of provincial capital under a well-devised strategy.

He was addressing a meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders belonging to Peshawar at Chief Minister’s House here on Sunday. The meeting, according to an official statement, discussed issues related to solving problems of the residents of provincial capital.

The chief minister termed sewerage issue of the city as a serious one. He said that all sewerage pipes would be laid underground to solve the problem on a permanent basis.

“In order to improve public service delivery, hardworking and professional people will be appointed on merit in all autonomous institutions of the provincial government. Local government system will be further improved so that issues of people are resolved at local level,” he said.

Mr Gandapur declared Peshawar as the city of all residents of the province. He pledged to make Peshawar a city of flowers again. He added that streetlights in the provincial capital would be switched to solar energy.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Arbab Sher Ali and Shandana Gulzar, MPAs Meena Khan Afridi, Mohammad Asif, Fazal Elahi, Arbab Asim, Kamran Bangash, Mehmood Jan, Samiullah and others.

They said that traffic congregation, poor infrastructure, shortage of clean drinking water, faulty sewerage system and security were the main issues faced by the residents of provincial capital.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2024